Mutual funds register Rs2 trillion inflows in April-September
Investors poured in a net of Rs2,02,001 crore in mutual fund schemes in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal, as compared to Rs2,34,564 crore in April-September 2016-17
![Overall, the assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry, comprising 42 players, reached a staggering Rs20.4 trillion in September-end. Photo: iStockphoto (iStockphoto) Overall, the assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry, comprising 42 players, reached a staggering Rs20.4 trillion in September-end. Photo: iStockphoto (iStockphoto)](https://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/Period2/2017/10/13/Photos/Processed/mf-kXKG--621x414@LiveMint.jpg)
New Delhi: Investors have pumped in over Rs2 trillion into various mutual fund schemes in the first six months of the current fiscal, with equity and balanced funds accounting for most of the inflows.
According to data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), equity and equity-linked schemes attracted over Rs80,000 crore, and balanced funds received more than Rs47,000 crore. Besides, Rs28,600 crore was invested in liquid or money market fund category.
In contrast, gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to see net outflow of Rs388 crore. “The huge inflow could be attributed into equity, balanced and money market funds with robust participation from retail and HNI investors," said Anshul Saigal, portfolio manager at Kotak Mutual Fund.
Bajaj Capital chief executive officer Rahul Parikh said Indian investors have now assimilated mutual funds and the credit goes to awareness programmes and endeavours by regulators and asset management companies.
In all, investors poured in a net of Rs2,02,001 crore in mutual fund schemes in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal, as compared to Rs2,34,564 crore in April-September 2016-17. Liquid and money market funds invest mainly in money market instruments like commercial papers, treasury bills, term deposits and certificate of deposits.
These funds have a lower maturity period and do not have any lock-in period. Saigal said that investors are taking the systematic investment plan (SIP) route to invest in mutual funds. At present, the industry receives about Rs5,000 crore every month through SIPs — an investment vehicle that allows investors to invest in small amounts periodically, instead of lumpsum.
The frequency of investment is usually weekly, monthly or quarterly. Over the last few years, markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has been taking measures to increase mutual fund penetration in smaller cities and getting newer investors into the fold by allowing for an additional 30 basis points expense and two basis points towards investor education.
The move seems to be paying off as there has been a rapid rise in the number of new folios as well as increasing share of assets from smaller cities (termed at B-15 cities), which now account for 18% of the overall assets base. Overall, the assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry, comprising 42 players, reached a staggering Rs20.4 trillion in September-end from Rs17.54 trillion at the end of March.
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